chase



Jan. 1 1

1 927 T. P. CHASE VEHICLE BRAKEl Filed 0017. 18, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

Unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEIRON IP. CHASE, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH CORPORATION, OF DAYTON7 OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

VEHICLE BRAKE.

Application led October 18, 1923.

This invention relates to brake controlling devices for vehicles havingbrakes on both guiding and driving wheels.

It is among` theI objects ot the present. in-

vent-ion to relieve the brake pressure on the guiding` wheels of a vehicle when such vehicle is in a turn or more specifically when the said wheels are moved out of straight forward position.

il' Another object is to regulate the amount of brake pressure on the lguiding' wheels of a vehicle in accordance with the position of said wheels. That is, with increasingl movement of the guiding' wheels out ot straight l `forward running position the brake pressure thereon will be proportionately relieved.

A still further object is to adjust the brake operating' mechanism by means of the operation ot the steering means ot the vehicle so that when said means is operated to move the guiding wheels ot the vehicle, the brake operating' mechanism will be automatically adjusted to apply a predetermined proportion ot the entire brake pressure applied to the front wheels in accordance with the position to which the guiding; wheels have been moved.

One method of accomplishing these and other objects which appear hereinafter in- 30 cludes the p-rovision of means associated with both the steeringapparatus and the brake pressure applying] means ot a vehicle in such aI manner that when the steering ,means is operated to move the guiding wheels of the vehicle out ot straight l'orward running position, in either direction, the leverage ot the connection between the brake pressure applying means and the guiding' wheel brake operating' rods will be proportionately reduced and at the same time that to the rear wheels increased. in accordance with the amount ot' movement ot the guiding, wheels out oit straight forward running` position. The brake operating; mechanism is thereby set to apportion the applied braking energy, between the guiding and driving' wheels at a predetermined ratio.

Further objects and advantages ot the present invention will be apparent from the "o following description, reference being` had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment'ot the present invention is clearly shown.

Tn the drawings: Fig. 1 is a general assembly view of the Serial No. 669,246.

brake controlling; device attached to a fourwheel motor vehicle.

Fig'. 2 is a plan view of the device showing the guiding wheels ot the vehicle in straight forward running'l position.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the guiding wheels ot the vehicle moved to the rightout of straight forward running position.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals designate brake drums secured to the guiding' wheels 10 ot' the vehicle. 21 designates the brake bands associated with the brake drums, said brake bands being equipped with the usual brake contracting devices which include levers 22. Connecting the free ends of the similar levers 22 is a cross arm 23, having a rod 24 connected thereto, intermediate the levers 22. This lever 24 is connected with the common operating,r lever or link 25 by means of levers 26.

27 designates brake drums secured to the driving wheels 11 ot the vehicle. These brake drums are provided with brake bands 28, which, like the forward or guiding wheel brakes, have similar operating levers 29, the free ends of which are connected by mea-ns of a cross arm 30. This cross arm 30 is connected with the common operating lever or link 25 by means of a suitable lever 31.

The link 25 is provided with ears 32 and 33, the former acting as a connecting point for the guiding wheel brake operating means including levers 24 and 26, while the latter ear 33, forms a connecting point for the driving wheel brake operating lever 31. A radial, longitudinal slot 34 is termed in the link 25. A saddle 35 is slidably fitted in the slot 34. this saddle being connected with the brake pedal 36 by means ot' the rod 37. 95 Thus, the saddle 35 together with the rod 37 forms a shittable connecting link between the common lever or link 25 and the brake pedal or energy applying means 36 and acts as the brake energy proportioning means as 100 will be described hereinafter.

38 desiginates the steering,- wheel of the vehicle having,l a column 39 which is provided with a worm 40 adapted to operate the worm gear 41. This worm gear 41 is 105 mounted on a shaft 42 which also carries a. vertical arm 43, to which the drag link 44 is connected. The drag` link 44 is connected with the steering knuckle of one of the guiding wheels 10 of the vehicle, the 110 other guiding Wheelk being connected with the drag link by means oii tie rod d5. Th vertical arm 43 has connected to its Ytree end, inhinged relation, one end or the rod lo and one end of the rod e?. lfhe opposite ends of these rods are provided with slots i3 and 49 respectively. A cross sha't 50 roi supports a T-shaped lever 5l, eonipr cross arin and a stein. rlhe cross arni includes oppositelydisposed portions and 53, the i'oriner projecting into the slotted end 4:8 oit rod d6, While the latter projects into the slotted end e9 or rod 7. fis is shown in Fig. l, these cross arin portions are normally so positioned that the cross arm portion 52 will engage the forward end of the slot 48, While the portion 53 normally engages the rear end oi the slot el). The stein 54 of the T-shaped lever 5l has one end of a rod 55 connected thereto, the other end of the rod is connected to the saddle 1When the T-shaped lever 5l is in nornial position, as shown in Fig. l, the rod 55 will maintain the saddle 35 in position in the slot 34, substantially midway betweenv the `ears 32 and 33.

A; spring 56 is connected to the rod 55 and is adapted to inove the rod 55 to return the saddle 35 into normal position as will be described.

llVhen the guiding Wheels l0 or the vehicle are in a position as is shown in l? Q, that is, a straight forward running position, the levers associated With the steering nieans of the* vehicle Will hold the saddle in position in the slot 3i, intermediate the ears 32 and 33. Under these conditions the braking device is so adjusted that, when braking energy is applied on the pedal 36, a pull Will be exerted on the ro l 37 and saddle 3o, to. operate the coinnion lever or link rlhe saddle 35 being in this intermediate position onthe link,y will tend to distribute the enerpn,Y applied in predetermined proportion between the guiding Wheel and driving Wheel brake operating levers. A

Now when the driver operates the steering` Wheelv 33 to deflect the guiding Wheels out of st'aight forward running posI ion in either direction, a shifting of t7 ig wheels ne steer to the rightbeing considered 'ier purposes ot illustration as shown in 3, the arin 43 Will be nooved in counterclockn iso direction, thus tending to push the rods ein and il? in the direction of the arroiv I The rod l-G moving in this direction, will operate the T-shaped lever 5l in a clockwise direction about the shaft on which it inounted, `dre to the fact that the cross arni portifn of said liever is in engagement with the ner or 'forward end of the slot i3 forni-ed in the end of the rod llo. However, nievelnent ot the rod t? in the direction oi the arrow 7 Will not aii'ect the operation of the T-shaped lever 5l because the cross heisses arin portion 53 of the said lever which projects into the slot i9 of the rod i7 is in the outer or entreine rear end of the slot, thus providing a lost inotion connection between these two e-lenients, the rod elf? and the arin on 53, when the rod Ll? is nioved in iis direction. Rotation ot the lT-shaped e'cr 5l in this clockwise direction will, througli the connection 55, niove the saddle 35 troni its intermediate position on the coiiiinon lever or link 25 down toward the end or the said lever to which the rear Wheel brake operating rod is connected.

Freni they atoregoing it will be seen that operation oi the steering ineans will automatically adjust the point of engagement between the saddle 35 and the coinnion lever or lint 25. The greater the angleY oi deliection of they guiding Wheels, the greater Will be the distance through which the saddie 35 isV nioved freni its intermediate position on said lever toward the point of connection bet-Ween said lever and the rear Wheel brake operating rod. Wlhen the vehiclc is running in a straight forward direction, the brake operating mechanism Will be so adjusted that energy applied through brake pedal 36 will be divided between the guiding and driving Wheel brakes in predetermined proportions. However, when the operator manipulates. the steering Wheel 38 so that the vehicle is directed into a turn, the brake operating mechanism will be adjusted so that the braking energy applied to the brake pedal will be divided between the guiding and driving Wheel brakes so that a lesser proportion ot the bra-king pressure will be applied to the guiding Wheels in accordance With the amount oft detlection oit the guiding Wheels to niake the torn. rllhis reeproportioning of the energy applied, between the guiding and driving wheel brakes is obtained by the shitting oi? the point of engagement between the saddle 35 and the coininon lever or link 25 to a position on the link in closer proximity to the point of connection eti the driving wheel brake connections to the link than to the guiding Wheel brake connections to the link. However, as the saddle aided by the spring 5G, approaches the intermediate point on the link between the points oi connection of the driving and guiding Wheel brake operating rods, the braking energy applied to both these sets or brakes will approach a closer halance.

llhile the 'forni of embodiment ot the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred. torna, it is to be undern stood that other terms inight be adopted, all coming Within the scope of the claiins which i'follonf'.

1"What is claimed is as follows :-w

l. A braking device `for a vehicle having brakes associated with the gaiding and the lli) CII

driving wheels, comprising in combination, means for operating the brakes; steering means for controlling the position oi' the guiding wheels; and means actuated by the steering means for adjusting the bra'ke operating means to divide the braking energy applied proportionately between the giuding and driving wheel brakes in accordance with the operation ot the steering means.

2. A braking device for a vehicle having` brakes associated with the guiding and the driving wheels, comprising in combination, means tor operating the brakes; steering means for controlling the position or' the guiding wheels; and means associated with both aforementioned means `lor adjusting the brake operatine' means to proportion the amount of applied braking energy between the guiding and driving wheels in accord ance with the position. ot the guiding wheels.

3. A braking device for a vehicle having brakes associated with the guiding and the driving wheels, comprising in combination, means for operating the brakes; steering means for controlling the position oit the guiding wheels; and means associated with both aforementioned means; 'for automatically adjusting the brake operating means to transmit to the guiding wheels a predetermined proportion oit the entire brake energy applied in accordance with the operation of the steering means.

4. In a braking system for a vehicle including guiding and driving wheels each one of which is provided with a brake device in combination, steering means for controlling the guiding wheels: means 'for applying braking energy to all of the brakes; and means associated with the steering means for proportioning the braking energy applied, so that the energy exerted on the guiding wheel brakes will be reduced direct` ly and the energy applied to the driving wheel brakes will be increased directly with the amount of detiection ot the guiding wheels out of straight forward running position.

5. In a braking system4 .'lor vehicles including guiding and driving wheels each one otl which is provided with a brake, in combination, steering means for controlling the position ot the guiding wheels; and means operable by the steering mea-ns to divide the energy applied to the brakes in such a manner that the ratio between the energy applied to the guiding wheel brakes and that applied to the driving wheel brakes is direct-ly decreased with the increased movement of the guiding wheels out ot' straight forward running position.

t. ln a vehicle including front or guiding wheels and rear or driving` wheels, all provided with separate brakes, a brake controlling device comprising in combination, steering means associated with the front wheels for operating same to guide the vehicle, means for applying braking energy to all ot the brakes; and means associated with the steering means for proportioning the applied braking energy between the front wheel brakes and the rear wheel brakes in accordance with the degree to which the tirent wheels have been moved out of straight forward running position.

7. In a vehicle including guiding and driving wheels each of which is provided with a separate brake, means for transmitting braking energy to all of the brakes steering means associated with the guiding wheels i'or` moving these wheels out ot or into straight forward ruiming position in either direction; and means controlled by the position ot' the steering means to apply substantially equal braking energy on all brakes when the steering means holds the guiding wheels in straight forward running position and adapted to cause proportioning ont' the energy transmitted so that the guiding wheel brakes will receive a lesser proportion of such transmitted energy as they are moved out of straight forwad running position.

S. In a braking system for vehicles including guiding and driving wheels each one oit which is provided with a. brake in combination, steering means for controlling the position of the guiding wheels; means 'i'or exerting braking energy; means for distribntiim` this braking energy equally be tween all of the braking devices; and means associated with the steering means for controlling the energy distributing means whereby the energy applied to the guiding wheel brakes will be reduced and` that applied to the driving wheel brakes will be proportionately increased with Ythe movement ot the guiding wheels out of straight ttn'ward running position.

9. ln a braking system t'or vehicles including driving and guiding wheels each ot which is provided with a brake in combination. steering means lor controlling the position oiE the guiding wheels; a. set of brake ogerating levers associated with the guiding wheel brakes and a set ot levers associated with the driving wheel brakes 'tor operating the same; a link connecting` both sets ot' brake operating levers; means connected with the link for exerting energy thereon: and means associated with the steering means 'i'or inning the application olf the working eiuu'gy to the link in such manner that. when the guiding wheels are in straight 'forward running position, the braking energy will be divided substantially. equal between both guiding and driving wheel brakes, and, when the guiding wheels are moved ont ot direct forward running position in either direction, the working energy will be re-proportioned to llO reduce the braking energy exerted on the guiding Wlieels end to increase tlie braking energy on tlie driving` Wheels directly with the degree to which the guiding wheels lieve been n'ioved out ot straight forvvart running position.

l0. A four-Wheel vehicle lievinga grail' ot brakes assooieted with the guiding; Wlieels and a pair oill brakes Witli the driving Wliees: a set ot levers 'for operating;` eeeli pair of brakes; u eoinnion lever connected to and adapted to operate botli sets ot brake levers; a brake pedal if' applyingY braking energy; a sliiitable link interposed bet-Ween the brel-e pedal and tbe comin-on lever and edaped to transmit the brak'- energy applied to the breite pedal equally to both sets of brakes or proportionately therebetween; a steering ineens tor controlling' tbe position ot tbe guiding' Wheels and ineens associated with the steering means and Conneeted to tbe adjustable linlt between tlL bralte pedal and the common lever whereby when the steeringl means is operated in either direction to nieve tbe guiding` wheels out et straight forward positioni tbe sbi'ltable link will be operated to projooi iiionaely decrease the braking enerfg'jf applied to the trent Wheels and increase t're braking' energy appliefY to the driving' wheels.

11. four-Wheel veliiele baring a pair of brakes essoeiated with tbe ,duiding Wheelsl and a pair of breites with tlie driving` Wheel; a set. ot' levers tor operating; eaeli pair et brakes; a eoninion lever Connected to and adapted to operate both sets ot breite levers; u lrake'pedel for applying' braking: enermy ai shiftable link interposed between the brake pedal andthe common lever and adapted to transmit the braking' energy enbl'ied by the brake pedal equally to both sets ot' brakes or proportionately therebetvveen; means for controlling' the position ot the guiding; wheels ineiuding' an arni normally in vertical position; tWo rods eaeli secured: at one end to tbe arm in liinree relation. and slotted at its opposite end; a T-sliaped lever tulernined at tbe point oit intersection ot tbe Cross erm and stein portion thereof; the one CrossI erin projecting); into and engaging' with the front end of the slot or" one of seid rods and. tlie other Cross arm projecting; into and engaging` Witb the rear end ot tbe slot ot tlie other rod whereby when the steeringl ineens is operated in either direction to nieve tbe guidingg Wheels out of straight forward po sition, this duo-directional movement ot the steering` Ineens will be translated into-a unidireetionel movement to tlie 'l"-sliaped lever; and lever Connecting tbe stem ot the T- shaped lever with the sliiiftable connecting link interposed between tlie pedal and the eoniinon lever for moving said eonneeting linl on the eonnnon lever whereby when tbe Wheels are moved out ot" straight forward running' position, braking' energy up- `plied by tbe bralfe pedal will be proportionately reduced on tlie guiding Wheel breites and inereesed on tliedriving Wlieel brakes.

l2, A braking system :tor a veliiele including; guiding' and driving: vrlieels eaeli one ot ivliieli is provided vvitl'i a seperate braking device, comprising' in Combination, if set og'' operating levers for tbe guiding `vlieel brakes and e set tor tbe driving1 vvlieel brakes; a linl one end ot ivliieli .is operatively connected to tbe guiding;- Wheel brake operating` levers :ind the other end of which if; operatively connected to tlie driving` wheel breite operating levers; a brale pedexl yeonneeted to a` `eaeildle seein-ed to but ineve-ble longitudinally of tbe link and normally positioned n'iidv-Jay between the connections ot tlie two sets ot bral'ie operating' levers to tbe link; steering' ineens tor controlling the guidingA wheels and including); an arm normally in vertical position; a pair ot rods eaeli secured atone end to ille arm in hinged relation, and slotted at its opposite end; a T-slieped lever tnleruined at tbe point ot intersection ot tbe crossarin and stein portions the one Cross, urni proieeti'ne; iut-o end engaging' with tbe front end ot tbe slot on one ot said pair of roes and t-lie other cross arn'i projecting' into and engaging with tbe rear end. of the slot oi' the other rod whereby when the steering;` Aeens is operated to sbilt tbe guiding vvlieels out et straight im'ivard running posit-ion in eitber direction the erin thereupon Will rotate the T lever about its t'uleruin, in one directionn a connecting rodbetween the stein ol? tlie lever and the saddle for nxovingI the saddle longitudinally et the link; :ind resilient means tor returnine` the saddle to normal position when the guiding' vvlieels are again sliitted to straight iorverd running position.

in testimony ivliereot l libreto aib); my signature.

THERON l). CHASE.

lit 

